Group Management Device

1. A group management device having a processor comprising: a determination unit that determines, using the processor, when receiving participation request of a participating terminal device which requests participation into a peer-to-peer network, a first priority level for allowing the participating terminal device to participate in a first group that is managed by the group management device, based on information relating to the participating terminal device and information relating to terminal devices belonging to the first group; a priority level determining unit that determines, using the processor whether or not the first priority level exceeds a second priority level included in the participation request, the second priority level being zero or a highest priority level calculated before the participation request is sent to the group management device; and a reply determining unit that updates, using the processor, the second priority level included in the participation request with the first priority level when the first priority level is equal to or higher than the second priority level, transmits a reply to the participation request, and determines whether to transfer the updated participation request to another group management device, the reply determining unit not updating the second priority level included in the participation request when the first priority level is lower than the second priority level, wherein the information relating to the terminal devices belonging to the first group includes IP address information, provider information, default gateway information, the number of connectable terminal devices within the first group, a desired acceptance level of the participating terminal device to be accepted by the group management device, information relating to past connection history, or a combination thereof.

2. The group management device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a transmission determining unit that determines whether to transmit the participation request to a second group management device managing a second group by comparing the first priority level with a threshold value set in advance.

3. The group management device according to claim 1 , wherein the reply includes the information relating to the terminal devices belonging to the first group, information of the first priority level, or both.

4. A group management system, comprising: a plurality of group management devices each manage a group configured by aggregation of terminal devices performing communication; and a participating terminal device, wherein a first group management device having a processor among the plurality of group management devices includes a determination unit that determines, using the processor, when receiving participation request of the participating terminal device which requests participation into a peer-to-peer network, a first priority level for allowing the participating terminal device to participate in a first group that is managed by the first group management device based on information relating to the participating terminal device and information relating to terminal devices belonging to the first group; a priority level determining unit that determines, using the processor, whether or not the first priority level exceeds a second priority level included in the participation request, the second priority level being zero or a highest priority level calculated before the participation request is sent to the first group management device; and a reply determining unit that updates, using the processor, the second priority level included in the participation request with the first priority level when the first priority level is equal to or higher than the second priority level, transmits a reply to the participation request, and determines whether to transfer the updated participation request to another group management device, the reply determining unit not updating the second priority level included in the participation request when the first priority level is lower than the second priority level, and the participating terminal device includes a connection destination determining unit that determines, when receiving a reply from one or more of the plurality of group management devices, at least one of the terminal devices belonging to groups managed by the one or more of the plurality of group management devices as a connection destination terminal device, based on priority levels that are determined for the groups managed by the one or more of the plurality of group management devices, and that allows the participating terminal device to participate in the group to which the connection destination terminal device belongs, wherein the information relating to the terminal devices belonging to the first group includes IP address information, provider information, default gateway information, the number of connectable terminal devices within the first group, a desired acceptance level of the participating terminal device to be accepted by the group management device, information relating to past connection history, or a combination thereof.

5. A group management method performed by a group management device that manages a group configured by aggregation of terminal devices performing communication, the group management method comprising: firstly determining, when receiving participation request of a participating terminal device which requests participation into a peer-to-peer network, a first priority level for allowing the participating terminal device to participate in a first group that is managed by the group management device, based on information relating to the participating terminal device and information relating to terminal devices belonging to the first group; secondly determining whether or not the first priority level exceeds a second priority level included in the participation request, the second priority level being zero or a highest priority level calculated before the participation request is sent to the group management device; and (i) updating the second priority level included in the participation request with the first priority level when the first priority level is equal to or higher than the second priority level, transmitting a reply to the participation request, and determining whether to transfer the updated participation request to another group management device, while (ii) not updating the second priority level included in the participation request when the first priority level is lower than the second priority level, wherein the information relating to the terminal devices belonging to the first group includes IP address information, provider information, default gateway information, the number of connectable terminal devices within the first group, a desired acceptance level of the participating terminal device to be accepted by the group management device, information relating to past connection history, or a combination thereof.

6. The group management method according to claim 5 , further comprising thirdly determining whether to transmit the participation request to a second group management device managing a second group by comparing the first priority level with a threshold value set in advance.

7. The group management method according to claim 5 , wherein the reply includes the information relating to the terminal devices belonging to the first group, information of the first priority level, or both.

8. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium storing a group management program for managing a group configured by aggregation of terminal devices performing communication through a group management device, the group management program causing a computer to execute a process, the process comprising: firstly determining, when receiving participation request of a participating terminal device which requests participation into a peer-to-peer network, a first priority level for allowing the participating terminal device to participate in a first group that is managed by the group management device, based on information relating to the participating terminal device and information relating to terminal devices belonging to the first group; secondly determining whether or not the first priority level exceeds a second priority level included in the participation request, the second priority level being zero or a highest priority level calculated before the participation request is sent to the group management device; and (i) updating the second priority level included in the participation request with the first priority level when the first priority level is equal to or higher than the second priority level, transmitting a reply to the participation request, and determining whether to transfer the updated participation request to another group management device, while (ii) not updating the second priority level included in the participation request when the first priority level is lower than the second priority level, wherein the information relating to the terminal devices belonging to the first group includes IP address information, provider information, default gateway information, the number of connectable terminal devices within the first group, a desired acceptance level of the participating terminal device to be accepted by the group management device, information relating to past connection history, or a combination thereof.

9. The computer-readable, non-transitory medium according to claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises thirdly determining whether to transmit the participation request to a second group management device managing a second group by comparing the first priority level with a threshold value set in advance.

10. The computer-readable, non-transitory medium according to claim 8 , wherein the reply includes the information relating to the terminal devices belonging to the first group, information of the first priority level, or both.